Two Noras: January 31, 1914 and January 31, 2021

Nora Bauer: Saturday, January 31, 1914

We had quite a bit of snow today. Got a letter from Lena. She sent me a Christmas cactus. Was to church tonight and met Dora & Gertrude going home. 

Nora Spitznogle: Sunday, January 31, 2021

I was an EME at 10:30 Mass. Schaun and Adrian helped me move shelves to the garage and I treated them to lunch. We visited their sister and toured condos. 

I'm a logistics person at heart - a Christmas cactus delivered by mail in January in the middle of a snow storm? I'm not sure who Lena is - Grandma Nora mentioned a Lena on January 1, which lead me to believe that she was local, although you can send letters to someone in your own town. 

What is confounding me is that she noted receiving a letter from Helen Rosfeld on that day. In my family tree research I found that she had an Aunt Helena Rosfeld (Nora's mom's sister). Lena could easily be a nickname for Helena, but I have doubts that she's speaking of her 49 year-old aunt. Grandma Nora has referred to her uncles as "uncle," so I don't think that she would drop the aunt honorific. Most likely is that Lena is a cousin, possibly the daughter of Aunt Helena, who was called Lena to not confuse her with her mother, Helena. I haven't had time to dive into Great-Grandaunt Helena's tree. I'm adding it my to-do list. 

I also went to Mass today. Because of the pandemic the number of people that can attend Mass is limited and half of pews are off-limits to accommodate distancing. You have to sign up each week to make sure that there aren't too many people, but it's not an exact science. I take up a whole pew by myself, while a family could sit in the same space. I always try to grab one of the shorter pews on the sides. The last couple of weeks, I've stood in the back, which I'm happy to do. It actually suits my can't-sit-still fidgeting comfortably. 

It's weird to not be able to socialize afterwards with folks. As an EME (Extraordinary Minister of the Eucharist) part of my duties would typically include gently washing the vessels and choosing the purificators. I love being in the Sacristy getting everything ready for the next Mass. It's a nice time to have a quick chat with other volunteers and to say hello to Father Guy. 

Since I've been mentally chiding Grandma Nora for not adding details, I should give you some background on Schaun. He and I dated for a handful of years and broke up 2.5 years ago. We have managed to remain friends and help each other with projects. I help him file the sales taxes for his business and with some correspondence and he helps me with minor car repairs and lends his muscle for moving things. 

The impetus for my reorganization project is lessening the amount of furniture in my 750 square-foot house. I have a huge thing that used to be a display piece at a local department store. It holds a ton of things, but I've started to feel like it looked too much like I was opening a gift shop. Schaun and his brother moved the top part to the garage and I'm keeping the bottom - shelves with doors to use as a buffet/breakfront/sideboard. The room looks bigger already and it frees up a lot of wall space for the art that's been stacked in a corner. 

I took the guys to lunch at Half Liter, just down the street from my house. Adrian suggested that we join him for a visit to his sister, Brenda's home. I adore Brenda and jumped at the chance. Beyond a brief visit when she popped in to Marigold when I was working, I hadn't seen her since August. It was wonderful to catch up with her and Gary. 

Brenda as made so many friends - and has convinced other friends to move to Lions Head, that we were about to socially distance tour two of the condos. She is a great ambassador and I'm ready to move in while I'm with her - it's so tempting! In the meantime, I need to keep getting my financial ducks in a row. It's good to have goals! 

Two Noras: January 30, 1914 and January 30, 2021

 Nora Bauer: Friday, January 30, 1914

Was to the dance tonight. Mary, Chris, and Joan (?) were there. So was ?. Gee it is fierce now though it is raining. Came home in the buggy. 

Nora Spitznogle: Saturday, January 30, 2021

I didn't take my pajamas off until time for work at the Red Key, but that didn't stop me from doing some work in the garage. Busy night.

I made the photograph of Grandma Nora's journal extra big in case anyone can decipher the names. I did a quick search of the Logansport papers to see if I could find mention of the dance. I was just as curious about the weather and the buggy. 

I clipped this from the next day's paper. I doesn't mention Logansport specifically, but it looks like the same storm that hit Indianapolis and Marion. Both cities are about an hour away from Logansport. It sounds like it was a doozy - rain, sleet, and snow. Check out the second paragraph in the article above - poor Joseph Walsh died by just picking up a telephone! 

When Grandma Nora said "the buggy" I assumed that it belonged to her family. Did they have horses? Where where they kept? 

My day was decidedly less exciting, although it snowed a lot this evening. I spent the morning and afternoon at home, continuing the cleaning project, making a pot of turkey chili, and rearranging the garage, tucking the mower and other summer things in the back and bringing the snow shovel and ice-melting salt to my porch. My garage is not connected to the house and was built in 1930 and is a little rickety. I fear that a storm like Grandma Nora experienced would have toppled my garage. 

I worked at the Red Key this evening. We were busy! The popular restaurant a few doors down was closed due to COVID-19 concerns, so a fair number of their customers came in. I'm the waitress, cook, cashier, and dishwasher. I can't remember when I've felt so over-whelmed at the Red Key. Luckily, most people were patient. We really slowed down at 8:30 when the snow started falling in earnest. I have a steep driveway and my car wasn't able to make it up the hill when I got home. Thankfully I was able to part on the street.  

Two Noras: January 29, 1914 and January 29, 2021

 Nora Bauer: Thursday, January 29, 1914

Was still warm out this morning. Had a little rain and is turning much colder tonight. Was to singing class and did some fancy work. 

Nora Spitznogle: Friday, January 29, 2021

Went straight home after work - not that there is much to do socially. Continued my organizing/donating project and managed to fill box for donation. 

I'm thinking that Grandma Nora's singing class was at church, but I don't know that for sure. I would just love to see a piece of her fancy work. 

I was happy to see this work week end. I'm not sure why it felt so long, but it did. I puttered around pulling things off of shelves and filled a tub for donation and a bag of things to give to friends. The living room is crowded with tubs, but it will look so much better when I'm done. I went to bed at a sensible hour also - another exciting Friday night! 

Two Noras: January 28, 1914 and January 28, 2021

 Nora Bauer: Wednesday, January 28, 1914

Had some of the girls over this evening. We had just a real good time. Heard some news about myself that I'd never heard before. 

Nora Spitznogle: Thursday, January 28, 2021

Started the day at the dentist. Sunny on the drive to work. I took advantage of Trash Day Eve to pull some stuff from basement.

Finally! A juicy entry from Grandma Nora! I wonder what the gossip was about? She she doesn't seem mad - I think she was a little excited by the news.  

At first I was disappointed that Nora's daily musings have been so benign. I thought that a 19 year-old would share more of her feelings and angst. 

I'm guessing that she worried about her siblings or parents reading her journal. I know that I'm circumspect in recording my day, not wanting to share work issues or family worries and such. 

I didn't hear any gossip about myself today, dang it. I did have a nice visit at the dentist office. No cavities or other dental disasters and it was nice to catch up with everyone. 

Work was good - I got a lot done. 

I'm riding the wave of getting rid of stuff. My basement is unfinished; block walls and a concrete floor. One third of it is more of a crawl space with a dirt floor. It's the part under my bedroom and bathroom which contributes to how chilly the floors are in those rooms. 

I can't quite stand up in that part of the basement and have mostly ignored it for the 25 years I've lived here. There is a huge oil tank against one side and a shelf along the opposite wall. The shelf has been lined with paint cans and other junk since I moved in. I pitched a dish strainer, scrub brushes, and other not-useful stuff. I filled two boxes with cans of dried up paint that I'll take to tox drop. Now I have room to store my my tool box and things that had been lining the stairs. 

Look at me go! 

Two Noras: January 27, 1914 and January 27, 2021

 Nora Bauer: Tuesday, January 27, 1914

Uncle Frank & Nora Doll were married this morning at six o'clock. Was very nice out today, just like spring. 

Nora Spitznogle: Wednesday, January 27, 2021

Got a call that I was needed at work early and felt a little discombobulated the rest of the day. 

Grandma Nora's Uncle Frank was one of her Dad's brothers. Nora (Eleanora) Doll was his second or third wife - I'm still trying to sort it out.  His (I think) second wife, Carrie, died in 1911. 

Nora Doll - I just love her name! - was 51 when they married and she lived until 1944. Uncle Frank was 46 when they married and had at least five children. Frank lived until 1954. I'm glad they had a nice day for the wedding. 

I was discombobulated all day - I recognize that the two whiskeys the night before didn't help. I grocery shopped on the way home from work and continued my decluttering project. It has been cold - in the 20s with spirts of rain/sleet/snow - so the yard sale totes are stacking up in the front room. The temperature is supposed to shoot up to 39 on Saturday, so I'll carry the boxes to the garage then.  

Two Noras: January 26, 1914 and January 26, 2021

 Nora Bauer: Monday, January 26, 1914

Got my polly centerpiece today. Was working on it tonight. Sent the present away today for Joe Schneider's bride. 

Nora Spitznogle: Tuesday, January 26, 2021

Was the late manager at work, so I stayed home until noon, filling yard sale boxes. Key after work.

Oh Grandma Nora, I wish I knew what all of this centerpiece business was about. The polly centerpiece seems like a new one. I did a newspaper search for the words "polly" and "centerpiece" for that era and came up blank. Is Polly a friend? Is there an upcoming party for Polly? Or is Polly an event? Hopefully the mystery will be revealed. 

And how sweet that she made a gift for Joe's bride from Kansas! Who was Joe to Nora? More mysteries. 

Every couple of years I get to bug to rearrange the house and do a little decluttering. I've decided to take apart a huge piece of furniture that I've been using as a china cabinet and see if if I can get away with just using the bottom cabinet piece. As it turns out there are lots of treasures behind those doors. It's hard to use the "have a used it in the last year?" question as a decision point, since I haven't entertained in almost a year. I'm making some progress and am filling tubs for a future yard sale. 

I worked late and popped into the Red Key to drop some stuff off on the way home and wound up having two drinks and chatting with friends. 

Two Noras: January 25, 1914 and January 25, 2021

 Nora Bauer: Sunday, January 25, 1914

Was to early Mass today and to Meeting afterward. Florence Louise and I were over to Yager's this afternoon. We were doing some fancy darning. It started to snow this afternoon. 

Nora Spitznogle: Monday, January 25, 2021

Woke up early this morning and took advantage of a burst of enthusiasm for cleaning before work. Stopped at Target after work for cat food and found a cute coat on sale - yay! 

I'm sure there should have been a comma between Florence and Louise - she's mentioned them before. I couldn't find any reference to a store, restaurant, or club named Yager's so it must have been a person. 

The weather was a little yucky today - icy rain and some slick spots in the roads. I was down to the last nibble of cat food and Tilly made sure that I knew it by nudging the food container and meowing obnoxiously. 

Target cleverly keeps the pet food in the middle of the store so I had to walk through. My dear brother-in-law, Tim (Ann's husband) drew my name and gave me a Target gift certificate for Christmas. I always feel like I'm cheating on Marigold (where I've worked for 31 years) when I purchase clothes anywhere else, but this fun jacket was hard to pass up - and it felt like a gift vs. using the certificate towards cat food. 

I marvel about how my tastes have changed - I was never one for animal prints and other such exoticness, yet here we are! 

Two Noras: January 24, 1914 and January 24, 2021

Nora Bauer: Saturday, January 24, 1914

Was a little colder today. Went up to the church this afternoon. Was uptown with Anna [sister] tonight. 

Nora Spitznogle: Sunday, January 24, 2021

I was an EME [eucharistic minister] at 10:30 Mass today. Today's Mom's birthday - we had two short chilly visits. 

Grandma Nora and I both went to church, although as I've mentioned before, we had wildly different experiences. Not only was the Mass I attended at Saint Joan of Arc said in English, I was able to be part of distributing communion. I wonder if Grandma Nora ever pictured such a thing? Here is a nice history of Saint Joseph's, where Grandma attended, and a photograph of Father Kroeger, who was the priest at the time. 

I love that Mom is living in such a lovely apartment at Marquette Senior Living and that she's been safe during the pandemic, but it's hard not to be able to spend any length of time with her. Mostly because she's being careful and partly because I'm around so many people on daily basis. I think I'm uber-careful, but it would break my heart if I passed COVID-19 to anyone, especially my parents. 

I stopped by the fancy grocery store after church and picked up a beautiful looking wedge of cake, fried chicken and mashed potatoes, rolls, tea roses, and two newspapers. It was cold today - 24 degrees (as you can see from my foggy glasses) so our visit was short. We are so lucky that Mom lives in a ground floor apartment and has a patio - I can't imagine trying to have a conversation three floors away!  

After our visit I was feeling antsy so I walked around the Fashion Mall and had an early dinner. When I got back in my car I realized that I'd forgotten to give Mom the papers, so I ran back to her place. It was great to see her twice in one day! 

Two Noras: January 23, 2014 and January 23, 2021

 Nora Bauer: Friday, January 23, 1914

Was up to Mr. Barnes house this afternoon and Marji gave me a piece of ?. Was up to the bank. It was pouring rain when we came home tonight. 

Nora Spitznogle: Saturday, January 23, 2021

Lazy day at home, managed to sort through a few things to add to the yard sale pile. Worked at the Red Key Tavern this evening - busy, yay! 

I made the photograph of Grandma Nora's entry extra large, in case someone can help decipher it. Pastry, maybe? Although I think she'd just say "cake" or "pie." My guess is that it was cloth of something to do with her fancy work. All theories are welcomed! 

I had a truly lazy Saturday. I mostly napped and read wrapped around small bursts of housework - doing the dishes and laundry. I was smart enough to divvy up a coffeecake that was taunting me - bourbon, bacon, maple. Delicious! I dropped a chunk off at Tammy's on the way to work - she gave me a quart of ox-tail soup in exchange and gave the rest to my co-worker, Steve, who brought me vegetable soup.  Woo hoo! 

Work at the Red Key was busy, just the way I like it. These days I'm the hostess, waitress, cook, busboy, dishwasher, and cashier - and sometimes bartender.  

Two Noras: January 22, 1914 and January 22, 2021

Nora Bauer: Thursday, January 22, 1914

Anna [sister] went to the club tonight. I was looking over some of my school work tonight and enjoyed it very much. 

Nora Spitznogle: Friday, January 22, 2021

An exhausting day at work. I managed to save enough WW points to treat myself to Chick-fil-A nuggets and waffle fries. 

 I still haven't determined where the "club" is. 

I have one of Grandma Nora's work books from when she was in business school at St. Josephs's (where I think that Sr. Augustine teaches). I wonder if that was the same school work she was looking at? 

The outside of the book is covered in paper - I'm not sure why that delights me so! 

Two Noras: January 21, 1914 and January 21, 2021

Nora Bauer: Wednesday, January 21, 1914

Was snowing a little this morning and I think is snowing now. I embroidered a towel for Joe Schneider tonight. 

Nora Spitznogle: Thursday, January 21, 2021

It was a productive work day - I enjoyed seeing the sunshine through the window. Straight home, trash container to the curb. 

I get the feeling that Grandma Nora and I both had a bit of a boring day. She mentioned the snow twice and the most exciting part of my evening and rolling the trash and recycling bin to the curb. 

I don't put the bins out every week - in fact I think it's been six weeks since the recycling went out, I kept missing in because of the holidays. Dang - how boring is that post? 

Two Noras: January 20, 1914 and January 20, 2021

 Nora Bauer: January 20, 1914

Was uptown this afternoon. Got my centerpiece finished tonight. It is snowing out a little now. 

Nora Spitznogle, January 2021

Inauguration Day! At work at 6:00 A.M. wearing Chuck Taylor's and pearls. Watching festivities this evening. 

It was really hard to recap my day in the measly 16 words that Grandma Nora described hers, although I am ever curious about the centerpiece. 

Today was very exciting. Joe Biden was sworn in as the 46th president of the United States and even more fantastic was that Kamala Harris was sworn in as the first-ever woman Vice-President. 

Pre-pandemic I was assembling my outfit as a suffragist and planning to march in several parades last summer, in honor of the centennial of woman finally getting the right to vote in 1920 - although not all women of color were not granted the right until 1965.  

One hundred years later we finally have a women serving in the second highest office in the nation - I didn't realize how emotional that would be for me. 

Kamala is a fan of the Chuck Taylor shoes and is often wearing pearls to honor her sorority - Alpha Kappa Alpha - the oldest historically Black sorority in the country. I'm thinking that I need to wear my Chuck's more often - I felt light on my feet all day! 

I really enjoyed the celebration program this evening. In light of the pandemic the usual Presidential Balls were not taking place. The celebration included music, historical context, speeches by the VP and President and fireworks.  

What a lovely and historic day this was. 

Two Noras: January 19, 1914 and January 19, 2021

Nora Bauer: Monday, January 19, 1914

Was very sloppy out today. Was uptown this afternoon. Got a wedding invitation from Joe Schneider today. He will be married Jan. 28. 

Nora Spitznogle: Tuesday, January 19, 2021

At work at 6:00 A.M. I had an appointment this afternoon to finalize my medical power of attorney, etc. How adult am I? 

I still don't know what the relationship between Grandma Nora and Joe Schneider is. And isn't he getting married in Kansas? Mysteries abound. I spent a good chunk of time looking for a map of Logansport during the 1915 timeframe. I'd like to get a visual grip on what uptown means to her. 

My goal for my 50th birthday was to get my will written and all of the medical and financial power of attorney stuff taken care of. Nine and a half years later, here we are. I signed in the documents for my medical wishes and power of attorney today. In the next six weeks I need to get the details of the will done. At this point, I'm hoping to break even and not leave a financial mess for anyone. I can't make any promises about the basement mess. 

If you're looking for a gentle, uber-helpful, accordion playing attorney to shepherd you through the process, reach out to Demos Mills Law. She makes it as painless as possible. 

I was pretty productive when I got home. I changed the Christmassy colors lights across the top of the house to red, white, and blue in honor of tomorrow's inauguration, cycled through laundry, took out the trash, did dishes, attended a virtual lecture, and walked to the liquor store down the street to purchase lottery tickets...the jackpot keeps rolling over....someone's got to win, right? 

Two Noras: January 18, 1914 and January 18, 2021

 Nora Bauer: Sunday, January 18, 1914

Was to two Masses today. Started to snow about 10:00 o'clock. Had quite a nice snow. Did some more typing for Sr. Augustine today. 

Nora Spitznogle: Monday, January 18, 2021

What a weird day this is -- because of the COVID-19 pandemic Dad (rightly so) cancelled his annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Day fish fry.

Grandma Nora mentioned the snow twice, I wonder if it was a pretty as yesterday's snow was here? 

Today was really odd for me. Martin Luther King, Jr. days for the last 25 years-is have been busy with cooking for Dad's MLK, Jr. party. The day is always full of cousins, friends, folks from Lebanon, and Dad's GM buddies. The weather would have been perfect this year - cold enough for food safety, but not too cold to freeze the beer. 

Here is the text of the 1997 article in The Indianapolis Star that my late-friend Jeff Ayers wrote under the byline of Jeff Stanley (Stanley was his father's middle name). 

King Day Annual party draws the host's co-workers from GM, neighbors, family and friends.

By Jeff Stanley CORRESPONDENT LEBANON, Ind.

The annual Martin Luther King Jr. . Day fish fry and party at the Spitznogle farm in rural Lebanon doesn't match most people's notion of how a King Day event should look. First, there's the host 60-year-old John Spitznogle. His ancestry is German, and his distinctive Hoosier twang and easygoing rural manner make him seem the classic good ol' boy.

 For the past six or seven years, friends have gathered for the Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration and fish fry at Spitznogle's farm. The party-goers consist of co-workers from the General Motors metal fabrication factory in Indianapolis where Spitznogle, a die maker, has worked nearly 40 years, neighbors from the area (virtually all of whom are white), family and friends of John and Meg Spitznogle's adult children.

To the first-time guest, the party looks more like an old-fashioned country cookout than a commemoration of the guiding light of America's civil rights movement. Spitznogle said the first King party came about as a result of a favor he had done for a buddy. "A friend of mine stored a boat out here a season or two and he kept saying, 'Aw, John, I want to pay you for the storage,' and I said, 'Well, don't you have some fish?" He said he did and, since it was the first year we got the holiday off from GM, I decided to have a fish fry.

" What started off as a handful of friends from the factory getting together to fry fish and play cards eventually came to be known as the Spitznogle Martin Luther King Day Fish Fry.

Attendance grew, with neighbors, relatives and co-workers making the party a midwinter tradition. Spitznogle freely admits he was not always an enthusiastic King supporter. As a young man living and working on the farm during the troubled years of the civil rights movement, Spitznogle remembers being wary of King's agenda. He said he based his skepticism on the government's own fear, suspicion and mistrust of civil rights leaders like King. What changed his mind? "The truth came out about the whole thing," he said. "You know, being a little white boy from the farm in the country, I thought everybody had the same opportunity as I did," he explained. "I found out that it Just wasn't that way."

Spitznogle remembers blacks slowly making gains in areas such as equal employment opportunity. "I hate to say it, but we were the last skilled trade in our factory to get a black apprentice," he said. He came to understand that the changes brought about by the civil rights movement not only furthered the cause of justice for blacks, but had a goal of a truer democracy for all Americans.

"As far as I'm concerned, the Martin Luther King movement of nonviolence helped black people, helped women, and he surely didn't hurt us union folks, either," Spitznogle said as he brought another pan of fried fish into his workshop. Before General Motors gave employees the day off, Spitznogle remembers when nearly all of his black co-workers would stay away from the job on King's birthday. "I admired 'em for backing up what they believed in," he said.

Spitznogle said he knows not all of his white colleagues value the strides made by blacks. Some have even questioned why he would hold such a party. "I ran across a gal the other day and she couldn't believe I was having a Martin Luther King party," he said. "But what really surprises me is some of the young people, like this 25-year-old kid who said, 'What's John doing with this Martin Luther King party" Nonetheless, the party goes on. growing a little each year, inside the workshop, people fill up on fish and oxtail stew, trade stories and play cards. The atmosphere is down-home and relaxed, interrupted only by friendly laughter and the shuffle of work boots, on the wooden floor as celebrators return to the food table for more fish.

In the end, Spitznogle knows his little party probably won't change those more closed-minded than himself. If, by sponsoring a King Day event, a little ' more brotherly goodwill and mutual respect are generated, then that's a bonus. For his part, Spitznogle will modestly and matter-of-factly .explain his own convictions to anyone who cares to listen. '. "I'm not going to sit here with my chest sticking out and say, "I'm for Dr. King and he was wonderful and let's play a song," he said. "I'm just saying that, I do think he did some real good for this country."

Two Noras: January 17, 1914 and January 17, 2021

 Nora Bauer: Saturday, January 17, 1914

Today was the Horse Thief picnic & dance. Saw quite a few people I knew today. Did not go to the dance though. 

Nora Spitznogle: Sunday, January 17, 2021

Schaun and I did some work on the Red Key plumbing and I worked on the Two Noras project in between. Dinner at Aristocrat. 

I'm a little confused by Grandma Nora's entry - did she go to the picnic - fried chicken and real eggs! -  and not the dance? It looks like it was a fun event! 

Schaun is graciously doing some plumbing work at the Red Key and I helped. I also worked on setting up the new Two Noras blog location. Had a nice steak salad and a martini at the Aristocrat afterward. It was nice to not set the alarm for the morning - Second Helpings is closed in honor of tomorrow's Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday. 

Two Noras: January 16, 1914 and January 21, 2021

Nora Bauer, Friday January 16, 1914

Had lovely weather again today. Was downtown this afternoon and saw Mrs. Collins. The Golden Rule had a fire last night and it looks pretty bad today.

Nora Spitznogle, Saturday January 16, 2021

Big beautiful fluffy snowflakes fell this morning. Lazy day. I went to a drive by birthday party before working at the Red Key this evening, busy cooking. 

Since Grandma Nora has mentioned the weather the last two days, I wanted to see what lovely weather in January in Logansport, Indiana was. The Pharos-Reporter for that day was most unhelpful...fair weather tonight, colder tomorrow. 

The big story here for me is the fire at the Golden Rule department store. I remember hearing about a fire at the store as a child - as it turned out, there was a second fire in the 1960s. Here is a delightful series of photographs and descriptions by one of the families that owned the Golden Rule. I remember visiting the store as a child and loving it. 

I had a delightfully lazy day, staying in my pajamas as long as I could. Since it's not a good idea in the midst of the pandemic to gather in groups, drive by celebration parades have become a thing. I was delighted to be invited to celebrate a friend's 50th birthday. I didn't decorate the car in light of the falling snow, but I did don my 'Happy Birthday' silly glasses. It was nice to see Marita and have a short through the car window visit. I worked at the Red Key - we were busy with food orders - I'm also the cook, I was hoppin' all night, which I enjoy! 

Two Noras: January 15, 1914 and January 2021

Nora Bauer: Thursday, January 15, 2014

Was very nice out today. almost like spring Was to singing practice tonight. Got a card from Julia. She said Joe Schneider went out to Kansas to get married. 

Nora Spitznogle: Friday, January 15, 2021

I was the early manager at Second Helpings, arriving at 6:00 A.M. Everything was humming at work - a smooth and busy day. Home after work for a quiet evening. 

Singing practice? I wonder if it was for the church choir? I can't find any Julia or Joe Schneider in the family tree. Was Grandma Nora happy about Joe's Kansas marriage? 

I absolutely love my job at Second Helpings. The nonprofit agency has accomplished amazing things during the pandemic. 

The numbers for 2020 just blow me away - if we said that we'd do this much a year ago, I wouldn't have believed it. Last month numbers are from December. Record amounts of food rescued and food sent to food pantries and other social service agencies. Everything - meals, food to pantries, and the Culinary Job Training is free to all. 

I got the bright idea to move the Two Noras series from my main blog to a new one. Laying it out (I still have some tweaking to figure out) and moving the first two weeks of stories consumed most of the evening. 

Two Noras: January 14, 1914 and January 14, 2021

 Nora Bauer: Wednesday, January 14, 1914

Saw George Spitz[nogle] today. He was just going in to his grandmother's when we came home for dinner. Worked on my centerpiece again tonight. Wrote a letter to Helen today. 

Nora Spitznogle: Thursday, January 14, 2021

Worked half day, came home at 1:00 to prep for Skype interview about PEZ dispenser that I purchased on an online auction. Errands this evening; groceries, gas, and lottery tickets. 

George Spitznogle was Paul's younger brother by just a year, and Grandma Nora's eventual brother-in-law. The grandmother George was visiting would have been his material grandmother, Mary Kramer. In this era, dinner would have been served at noontime. 

I'm so curious about this centerpiece - what was it for? 

I'm guessing the letter she wrote was to Helen Rossfeld, a cousin. I need to connect some dots to confirm the relationship. 

I also wonder if she was tired after being up so late the night before. 

This is wild - I was interviewed for an HGTV show about Everything but the House, an online estate sale. They are following items from a specific sale from start to finish. In order for the computer to be at the right height and to show off my PEZ collection I had my laptop perched on five milk crates and clipped a light to a kitchen cabinet so the lighting would be better in the dark hallway. I hope I don't sound too dopey if it airs. 

The Powerball and Hoosier Lottery are up to $650M or something crazy like that. Fingers crossed! 

Two Noras: January 13, 1914 and January 13, 2021

Nora Bauer: Tuesday, January 13, 1914

It is now 1:00 A.M. Just arrived home from the Columbus Club Dance. Had a real good time. Was also to the Colonial this evening. They had some good Bicycle Riders. 

Nora Spitznogle: Wednesday, January 13, 2021

Another hectic day at work. I got my hair cut - it's been 12 months since my last color and I'm loving the grey. I took Mom for her first COVID vaccine. 

Oh, Grandma Nora - what a fun evening you had! On a Tuesday even! I see where I got some of my energy from. I'm always up for going out and if I can attend two events in the same evening, all the better. 

I couldn't find any mention of a Columbus Club in the 1915 Logansport papers. I'm guessing she meant the Knights of Columbus Club, which would make sense for a nice Catholic girl to attend a dance there. 

I was having a hard time deciphering the last words in Grandma Nora's post - it was Bicycle Riders. I was a little confused by the capitalization of the words, and was searching for a candy or a group. Once I found the lineup for the Colonial Theatre and saw that it was a vaudeville act featuring comedy gymnasts, bicycle made a little more sense. I tried to find some information on The Three Falcons, but no luck. 

My day was surprisingly emotional. Work is filled with pandemic planning and logistics, which was making me feel slightly overwhelmed. I was a bit late for my haircut, but Sarah was ever-gracious. After living through the awkward months of not coloring my hair, the end is in site! I've now been color-free for 12 months and looking forward to growing all of the color out - I'm so close! Many of my Bauer-Spitznogle cousins have gorgeous grey hair  - I can't wait! 

Mom got her first round of the COVID-19 vaccine this evening - look at her beautiful hair blowing in the wind! I'm so relieved that my parents have both started the vaccine round that I sat in my car and cried while waiting for Mom (I wasn't allowed to go in with her). 

Mom and I went to grab a sandwich afterward - I was leery about eating in, but we were the only ones in Panara, and they were well masked and had lots of plexiglass in place. I haven't been able to see Mom with the exception of a few patio visits since February!  

Two Noras: January 12, 1914 and January 12, 2021

Nora Bauer: Monday, January 12, 1914

Was above zero today. Was uptown this afternoon. Worked on my centerpiece tonight. Wrote to Ruth Smith today. 

Nora Spitznogle, Tuesday, January 12, 2021

Took Dad for his first COVID-19 vaccine this morning. We picked up Kassie for a trip to Batesville. 

Grandma Nora's statement that it was above zero answers yesterday's question about how cold was cold. I'm still wondering what the centerpiece is for - and what it looks like for that matter. And who is Ruth Smith? So many mysteries! 

My day was busy. Drove to Lebanon to take Dad up for his first of two COVID-19 vaccinations, he'll get the second round in 28 days. We then drove to Indianapolis to pick up Kassie and head to Batesville, where Kassie is remodeling her new (built in 1911) home. We picked up Sally - friend of Dad's and neighbor to Kassie - and Schaun - who is working on Kassie's house - and had lunch at the Sherman House. 

Kassie and I drove on to Cincinnati to pick up things we won at an online auction. Plenty of laughing and storytelling in the car. I drove back to Indianapolis to drop Kassie at home, on to Lebanon to take Dad home, and back to Indy. A fun day, but too much time behind the wheel. 

Two Noras: January 11, 1914 and January 11, 2021

Nora Bauer: Sunday, January 11, 1914

Was real cold today. Did some more typing for sister today. We all went down to Uncle John's tonight and played "Around the World." 

Nora Spitznogle: Monday, January 11, 2021

Lousy night's sleep. Work today was consumed with pandemic planning and timelines. Home after work for a shower, jogging in place, television, and popcorn. 

I'm intrigued by what Grandma Nora considered "real cold." I checked the Logansport Pharos-Reporter for the day. The only weather blurb said, "cloudy and colder tonight." Colder than what? I assume that Grandma Nora meant sister with a capital S. You may remember that she was doing some typing for Sister Augustine last week. 

Uncle John was most likely her paternal uncle, John Jacob Bauer. Uncle John was four years older than her father, Felix (who's father was also named Felix). I couldn't find a game called "Around the World" from that era, although it could have been as simple as starting with A and going around the room naming countries in alphabetical order....A is for Argentina, B is for Brazil, etc. 

I'll have to ask my Dad, John Vincent, who he was named after. John Jacob Bauer lived to be 80 years-old. He died two years after Dad was born. John Jacob's wife Anna died in 1910 - their two sons (Leo and John) would have been young adults in 1914. 

I'd say Indianapolis was cold today - in the 20s, not that I was outside much. I left for work at 6:00 A.M. and left a little before 5:00 P.M. Today was mentally taxing - the pandemic brings it's own challenges. 

I took a nice shower, and jogged in place watching Jeopardy - the first I've seen without Alex Trebek. I switched to PBS for Antiques Roadshow and a profile of a war time code breaker, Elizabeth Smith Friedman. Elizabeth was only a year older than Grandma Nora and grew up just 60 miles apart in Indiana towns. Transcribing Grandma Nora's journal has certainly tuned me in to the era. 

Two Noras: January 10, 1914 and January 10, 2021

Nora Bauer: Saturday, January 10, 1914

Was quite a bit colder today. Was up to the bank this afternoon. Gertrude and I went to church tonight and then I did fancy work. 

Nora Spitznogle: Sunday, January 10, 2021

Wonky sleep. Today was a series of naps. Played online Euchre with my sisters [Beth and Ann] and Tim [Ann's husband]. Kassie and I un-decorated our holiday prankster fun and had dinner. 

I love the idea of setting aside time for fancy work. I feel like I don't do anything fancy - it's more about keeping up with laundry and dishes and vacuuming. 

According to Grandma Nora's ledger in the back of the book, she possibly deposited her $11/weekly salary in the bank today. She also recorded an expense of $2.5o for board - I assume that was paid to her parents. It looks like her room and board was $5/month. I would love to know more about that agreement. 

One of the unexpected things to come from the pandemic was discovering online video Euchre. We can play and most importantly video chat. We played several games today and I can't tell you who won, but I can report that we laughed, traded stories, and caught up on life.  

Last month my dear childhood friend, Kassie, and I anonymously decorated the "Merry" and "Christmas" signs in front of one of my brother, J.R.'s businesses. We had great fun setting up creche and Santa scenes and revealing our prank in the poem below. We were good citizens and took everything away this evening.  

'Twas the fortnight before Christmas, when all through the land

Not a creature was stirring, and no one had a holiday plan.

Two childhood friends were nestled all snug in their homes;

Mindlessly scrolling through Facebook on their phones.

When what to their wondering eyes did appear,

But photographs of signs from Nora’s brother dear,

Nora texted

Kassie

so lively and quick,

We must decorate the signs and play St. Nick!

More rapid than eagles Kassie’s reply came,

We will start tonight and

J.R.

shall not know our name.

With Nora’s HHR full of Kassie’s candy canes and sparkly things,

The friends drove across the yard and attached wreaths with strings

And then, in a twinkling, they saw a car shining lights on them so bright,

Nora waved a giant candy cane and the car turned and drove out of site

The two women giggled so merry,

Who knew it would be so fun to be a Christmas fairy?

J.R. posted an update the next day with the decorations so far,

The women were delighted and searched their stashes and loaded the car

Nora’s garage yielded statues of shepherds, a wounded cow, and a sheep,

Kassie made a toy bag and a trip to the store to find a baby doll for cheap.

Back they went in the dark of the night to make a creche and hang stars

They added lights and toys and hoped J.R. wouldn’t notice the ruts made by the cars.

The next day they checked Facebook obsessively

Kassie and Nora were hitting refresh quite aggressively

Another day passed, then two.

When would J.R. post an update with the new view?

They plotted and schemed and enlisted the help of a friend to poke,

They hoped that J.R. was not mad at their joke.

At last the new photographs appeared and it was time for the last piece,

Their toes were frozen as they anchored the tree, they should have worn fleece.

They walked around the signs admiring their work - pipe cleaners were so handy!

They toasted their caper with glasses of bubbly, it was so cold they wished it was brandy.

At last the sneaky elves had added all of the stuff that they could,

So they backed the car down the sidewalk as civilized and merry vandals should.

Then dash away, dash away, dash away all

Proving Christmas cheer can be spread without visiting the mall.